Effect of aflatoxin on blood parameters of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Aflatoxicosis and its side effects have been reported among a wide range of fish species where Aspergillus species-contaminated foodstuffs are incorporated into the diet. Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is the most potent known toxicants. Therefore, it is an important potential toxicant to the most of the popularly cultured fish species. The present study was undertaken to assess the susceptibility and toxicity of AFB1 in rainbow trout by evaluating hematological parameters. Feeds supplemented with 0, 25, 50 and 100 ppb AFB1 were given to fry fish weighing 37±3 g in four experimental groups in three replicates for 60 days. The obtained results showed that AFB1 affected some hematological variables including erythrocyte, leucocyte, hemoglobin, hematocrit, Mean corpuscular volume, Mean corpuscular Hemoglobin, and mean corpuscular Hemoglobin concentration, and induced a significant decrease at 100 ppb concentration. Our results confirmed that rainbow trout is a species highly sensitive to AFB1.